All Whites midfielder Sarpreet Singh has been recognised at The Indian Weekender Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame Awards for 2019.

The 20-year-old Kiwi-born Indian, who has made headlines in 2019 by becoming the first Kiwi to sign for European giants Bayern Munich, claimed the Young Achiever Award at the prestigious event.

The Award Ceremony was attended by a large number of New Zealand Members of Parliament including National leader Simon Bridges, Sports Minister Grant Robertson and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff and Mayor of Wellington Justin Lester, were also in attendance with around 1,200 others including New Zealand Football Executive Committee Member Rakesh Naidoo.  

Mayor Goff presented the Young Achiever Award to Singh who could not attend the evening due to his commitments with Bayern Munich where he is hoping to be named in their first team squad.

Singh won the award for becoming the first player of Indian descent and the first Kiwi to play for Bayern Munich. The transfer from the Wellington Phoenix to Germany was the largest in NZ Football history.

The Indian Weekender Honours, aka Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame, honour those who have contributed immensely to the community at a platform which is considered the biggest formal event of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.

The Honours, which initially started with the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame, has over the years incorporated the Young Achievers and Community Excellence Award, to reflect the community’s growing expectations and ambitions in Aotearoa.

The award continues an impressive 12 months for Singh. In June last year Singh was a standout for the All Whites at the Hero Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai. He was awarded the man of the match in two of the three games New Zealand played.

He went on to play a leading role in a resurgent Wellington Phoenix and was in the thick of the action when the New Zealand U-20 men made the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.

Singh was recently awarded the 2019 Men's International Player of the Year at the New Zealand Football Awards.

The Indian Weekend Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame Awards for 2019

Community Service Excellence Award
Harshad Patel

Young Achiever Award
Sarpreet Singh

Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame
Sir Anand Satyanand

Article added: Saturday 10 August 2019